MCIDC gives updates for ongoing projects

April 23, 2008

LEWISTOWN — Board members from the Mifflin County Industrial Development Corporation received several updates pertaining to ongoing projects during the group’s annual meeting on Tuesday.

The majority of the updates had to do with progress on the construction of the First Quality manufacturing facility. Construction for the 985,000 square foot diaper manufacturing facility has been under way since last year.

Work on the roads and utilities for the plant is scheduled to be completed by the end of summer, while the plant itself should be built and ready to operate by the end of this year.

Still in the design phase, is a proposal to expand the industrial park’s rail line up to the First Quality site.

“A lot of steel and skin of the building going up now ... people from all over are working on the site ... it’s a very complicated and complex project,” MCIDC President Robert P. Postal said.

Postal added that because of the progress on the project, access to the site is restricted to authorized personnel only and around the clock security is now in place.

Postal said many people made the project possible, especially MCIDC Vice Chairman Donald M. Chapman.

“Don has spent a lot of time on this project ... he has volunteered to stay involved,” Postal said of Chapman’s desire to see the project through to the end.

Postal then switched gears to discuss the west plaza in the industrial park.

“This is the last part of the plaza which has not been renovated ... we are now attacking this area ... taking little bites of this big project,” Postal said.

Demolition of an old boiler building continues in the west plaza and Postal said the two water towers in the area will come down as well.

Another project that is still in the design stages and is of significant interest to Postal and other board members is a proposal to install solar reflective equipment on the roof of Asher’s Chocolates.

“The idea is to reflect the solar energy ... if it works, it will reduce their energy costs associated with air conditioning,” Postal said.

Postal said he believes the equipment could be the first of its kind in the county.

He added that if the project is successful and keeps costs down for Asher’s, the same may be done at other MCIDC buildings.

The project was made possible with help from the Mifflin County Commissioners and a $75,000 grant from the PA Energy Development Authority. MCIDC has put up an additional $25,000 for the project as well.

Other items on the agenda included the following.

= The board approved the 2008-2009 capital budget, for the amount of $400,000.

= The board approved the tentative work plan for 2008-2009.

= The board conducted a reorganizational meeting and the following people were appointed to positions. The Officers are, chairman, Gary L. Oden; vice chairman, Donald M. Chapman; second vice chairman, Richard Calkins; treasurer, C. Wesley Wallace, and president/secretary, Robert P. Postal. Executive committee members are Adele Craig, Clair DeLong, T. David Filson, William Hayes, Ronald Notestine, James Spendiff and Jack Wilson. The board of directors is made up of William Hayes, Alfred Hughes, Aquilla Kanagy, Arthur Kauffman, William Lake, Susan McCartney, Tonald Notestine, James Spendiff, C. Wesley Wallace and Daniel Warfel.